RA villagers who are still waiting for materials from the Help for Homes initiative have started milling their own planks from mahogany trees.

This was the case in the village of Matainananu in the district of Bureiwai in Ra where villagers say materials are being delivered piece meal.

Pita Rakatavatu of Matainananu Village told The Fiji Times from his half-finished house that despite repeated assurances from hardware companies, they had not received materials to complete building.

Mr Rakatavatu said while he received some building materials these were not enough to finish a house meaning many were still living in tents.

He said that he had to resort to asking neighbours for aluminium roofing just so they could begin construction of his roof while they waited for the delivery of other materials.

Mr Rakatavatu said they were still waiting for timber to be used in construction of the walls of his house.

He Rakatavatu said there were other houses that had received concrete blocks, but not roofing iron or had received roofing iron without timber.

He said this made it very difficult for any sort of construction to begin.

Another villager, Ulaiasi Toni, 51, said the story was the same for many villagers, with many families still waiting in Matainananu for building materials.

Mr Toni said there were only two homes that were undergoing construction while the remaining homes received assorted building materials, but not enough to begin building.

Matainananu turaganikoro Paula Tinivere said there were 29 houses and 150 people in Matainananu, some of whom were still living in tents.

Earlier this month, Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum met representatives of hardware companies and promised to turn the screws on those who were not delivering.

Following the meeting, Government said there were ongoing issues with supply of concrete blocks. He said that most of the supplies, including steel and timber, were available.

He added there were other logistical issues, such as deliveries, being made, but recipients of the Help for Homes cards were not available to receive them.

“So part of the deal was when, for example, if you held a card and you went and ordered X number of things and they now want to deliver to the home of the person and they are not there,” he said. “Or when they (hardware companies) go out to their homes, to their villages or their farms, they are not there and sometimes they have been back four or five times.

“So because of Government instructions they have to deliver it to the person under whose name the card was issued. You know you can’t just give it to any person so they cited some of those issues.

“But you know we are not obviously thoroughly satisfied.”